Best Fancy Low Key Affordable restaurants London

Written By Matthew Lawson

Introduction

I have organized this list from most favorite to least favorite, however all of these places are great and serve delicious food. If you are only staying in London for a short amount of time, then I would personally recommend eating at the first five mentioned restaurants. London truly has the best out of any city that I have traveled to. The food scene is the diverse so you will definitely find something you like.

Kricket 

Kricket is a Michelin recommended restaurant for the year 2023. It is an Indian inspired restaurant that combines local British ingredients with Indian spices and cooking techniques. They currently have three locations in SOHO, Brixton, and White City. I would recommend sitting at the counter as it is an open kitchen that allows you to see the chefs live in action. I ordered garlic naan bread, fried chicken, butternut squash curry, and rice. The dishes were absolutely amazing and that is why Kricket received my top spot to eat in London. 

TIP: A good rule of thumb for finding a great restaurant to eat at, is to go to the Michelin guide for restaurants website and look for Michelin recommended restaurants. What are Michelin recommended restaurants you ask? Michelin recommended restaurants are restaurants that offer exquisite food at a reasonable price. They do not yet have a Michelin star but are well on their way in acquiring one. 

Beijing Dumpling 

Beijing Dumpling is in the heart of ChinaTown, and has received multiple awards including a Michelin recommended stamp of approval in previous years. The service is incredibly fast and the prices are beyond cheap. If you do happen to find yourself waiting in a line, then not to worry, you will find yourself seated in no time. When seated you will be given a menu with some pencils and you just simply checkmark everything you want and present it to the waiter when they return. I ordered veggie dumplings, kung pao chicken, and some spicy noodles that I cannot remember the name of, but they were all amazing. Whatever you order, it will be great. 

Italian Bear Chocolate

This is a desert place that first came to my attention via Instagram Reels. There are a lot of places claiming they have the best hot chocolate, but after you go to Italian Bear Chocolate you will know without a doubt who makes the best hot chocolate in the world. They developed their own technique called “triple chocolate” which combines triple chocolate mocha with a chocolate cake. I ordered their triple chocolate mocha and accompanying chocolate cake and it just may be the best desert I have ever had in my life. Period. 

Baba G’s - Camden Market

Upon arriving at the Camden Market I kept seeing people carrying this plate of massive loaded fries that looked absolutely delicious. Upon inquiring, I found out that this plate of heaven was at Baba G’s. Baba G’s specializes in Bhangra Burgers and Tandoor Grill, but the real MVP is their loaded fries. If you happen to find yourself in Camden Market and have a stimulus overload from the sheer amount of options, then just wander over to Baba G’s for their loaded fries and you will not be disappointed, I promise!

Camden Cakes - Camden Market

Massive nutella stuffed donuts. Need I say more? I had more than a few people ask me where I got my donuts from, while walking around. The donut I ordered was a pistachio nutella stuffed donut and it was simply delectable. If you want to be the person of envy, then go get some donuts at Camden Cakes. 

Craving

Craving is in Tottenham, so if you are only staying in central London then this place may be a bit far for you. But if you do happen to find yourself in Tottenham and are in search of good food, then look no further than Craving. Craving is owned and operated by Australian expats and they serve raman and asian fusion dishes. On a chilly and rainy London day, their raman is the perfect thing to warm your cold bones. 

Bread Street Kitchen 

This is a Gordon Ramsey restaurant. Bread Street Kitchen has multiple locations throughout the UK and London. This is not one of his Michelin star restaurants but it is still quality. We went there with my wife's family for our Christmas meal. Essentially everyone ordered a different dish and we all were satisfied with what we ordered. I ordered the cod dish with chocolate cake and ice cream and thought it was tasty. It was not the best meal I had in London but it was still quality and worth mentioning in this food guide. 

The Standard - Isla & Decimo 

I DID NOT EAT AT THESE PLACES. The Standard had a workspace that my wife and I took advantage of on multiple occasions. I could not help but notice how good the food looked. The place is also a VIBE. As soon as you enter you will be oooing and ahhhing. Decimo is run by a Michelin star chef who combines Spanish cuisine with Mexican cooking techniques and food. Isla is not quite as expensive as Decimo, so if you are looking for something cheaper, then Isla might be for you. The reason I am even putting Isla on this list is because of the aesthetic and vibe of the restaurant. Even if the food is bad (which I am almost %100 sure it will not be) then at least you will be eating in a well decorated space. 

Union Club

Union Club is a private members club, but you can request to book a table. It is cozy, charming, warm, and the staff are incredibly friendly. The menu changes based on the season, but when we were there it looked absolutely amazing. The chef has had 29 years of experience in perfecting and crafting their menu. The atmosphere is 10/10. Try and get a table if you can while you are in London. 

Mr. Foggs 

Mr. Foggs is a collection of traditional English pubs scattered about London and each one has their own unique design. Their focus is to transport you back to the Victorian era and wonder at what life was like back in 1850. Each Mr. Foggs is entirely unique, so pick the one that tickles your fancy. 

Arepa - Camden Market

Areap makes traditional Venezuelan street food and specializes in Arepas. What is an Arepa you ask? An arepa is a wrap made of corn flour and stuffed with meat, cheese, vegetables, and all sorts of other stuff. Arepa also serves fried plantain chips. If you are looking to try some South American food, then look no further than Arepa. 

Serata Hall

If you are looking for a bottomless brunch place, then Serata Hall is your top spot. You have two hours to eat as much as you can for 32 pounds. They also have pizza and other delicious dishes if you are looking for somewhere to eat at for lunch or dinner.

Links:

  • Book Your Hotel in London HERE

  • See My Blog Post on the Best Experiences in London HERE

  • See My Best Photos of England HERE

  • Book Your London Bridge walking tasting tour with Secret Food Tour HERE

  • Book Your London East End Food Tour HERE

  • Book Your London Indian Food tasting tour with Secret Food Tour HERE

  • Book Your PRIVATE London Food Tours - Borough Market, Soho, East End, Camden HERE

  • Book Your London Shoreditch walking tasting tour with Secret Food Tour HERE

  • Book Your The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea HERE

FAQ’s:

  • Here are few good lunch restaurants in London:

    Heist Bank

    The Listing Bar

    Atrio Restaurant & Bar

    Bourne & Hollingsworth

    Arepa & Co Stockwell

  • Here are a few great Indian Michelin Star Restaurants in London:

    Amaya

    Trishna

    Quilon

    Gymkhana

    Veeraswamy

  • Here are some great Cheap Eats in London:

    Delhi Grill Indian Canteen, Angel

    Wolkite Ethiopian Restaurant, Islington

    Roti King, Euston

    Pizza Union

    Phat Phuc, Chelsea

  • Here are some Unknown London Restaurants:

    Senor Ceviche, Soho

    Stef's @ Oregano, Angel

    Taco Queen, Peckham

    Smoke Daddies, Balham

Matthew Lawson https://mattsmemoirs.com/
Previous

Coworking Spaces in London + Coffee Shops with wifi
Next

Best Experiences in London